Sign



Feb. 9, 1932.. DONALDSON v 1,844,545

SIGN

Filed Feb. 7, 1931 fire/z 1.0mm Za'son Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE A301; 1!. DONALDSON, O1? FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY,ASSIGNOR TO THE DONALDSON All HGN COIIANY, F COVINGTON,KENTUGK,1AOORPORATION OF- KENTUCKY SIGN Application filed Iebruary 7,1951. Serial no. 514,316.

This invention relates to an advertising sign or billboard.

An object of the invention is to provide an advertising sign orbillboard of light weight, exceedingly inexpensive construction, havingmany of the advantages of the more expensive signs or billboards. Thesign or billboard of the invention, besides being inexpensive ofmanufacture, is weather-proof, fireproof, and light of weight, and willef- :tectively withstand more rough treatment after long usage, thanwill the heavier signboards commonly used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal sign with areinforcing wooden insert that is completely hidden from view when thesign is in use, said insert providing a backing or reinforcement for theexposed thin-metal peripheral edges that could otherwise become easilybent durin use or handling. The completely hidden lnsert, though simpleand inexpensive, lends ample strength and rigidity to the sign board.

The above and other objects are attained by the means described hereinand disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the signboard of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment-a1 crosssectional view taken on line 3-3of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents one character of securing means that may be employedin the construction of the device.

Signboards of the general type disclosed herein ordinarily were made tohold a metal or other character-bearing panel, by means of a peripheralwooden frame surrounding the panel edges, which edges were maintained inposition by means of strips of wood or metal placed in abutment upon themarginal portions of the panel and nailed or otherwise secured to theWooden frame. In other constructions, a wood frame was provided onto oneface of which the panel was directly attached. In each of the aboveconstructions, and in others as well, it was common to provide a ratherheavy and well built frame or body, the building up of which wasnecessarily a tedious, expensive and time-consuming operation. It willbecome evident, as, the description proceeds, that much time, labor andexpense are saved by resorting to the manner and means of constructionset forth herein, and that there is presented a more durable, lighter,and less expensive signboard structure than those heretofore known andused.

The sign, if it be rectangular as shown,

consists of but five parts, namely, the body 4-, and the four woodensubstantially triangular inserts or frame members 5, 6, 7 and 8. Thebody is a stampin of sheet metal, which, because of the novelconstruction of the device may be o'fivery light thin gauge meet. Thebody comprises the panel or charaeter bearing face 9,. bounded on eachside by a wide forwardly projecting surface or slope 1O inclined at anacute angleto the plane of the panel. The outwardly flaring orproiecting surfaces or slopes 10 bound the panel, and at theirperipheral limits lfi'they maybe directed forwardly, outwardly andrearwardly to provide the channel 13 and the rearwardly extending flange14. The exterior 15 of the channel may provide a peripheral border ofany desired shape. The flange '14: extends rearwardly to an imaginaryline lying substantially in the plane of the panel 9,the flange beingprefer ably, though not necessarily, substantially at right angles tosaidplane. The channel 13 and the substantially triangular spaceineludedbetween the wall portions and 14, are adapted to receive a longitudinalwoodenmember orinsert 5 which is substantially triangular in crosssection. The bead 01' 10h itudi-nal extension 16 may be provided to 11the channel 13' and afford a support which will oppose denting of theborder portion 1a The flange 14 may be nailed or otherwise secunedto'the insert 5, as indicated at 17, From the foregoing it should beapparent that those portions of the sign which are most liable to bedamaged orinjured, are affordedad'equate backingor support, withoutmaterially adding td the weight of the signal... f

Furthermore, the portions'm, and 14 zuiord,rt o the wooden inserts,complete protection against the efiects of the weather. The inserts aremitered at their opposite ends, as at 18, and the abutting mitered endsmay be secured together by nailing or. by means of any other suitableconnectino devices (Figs. 2- and 4). The rear wall-19 of each insert 5lies substantiallyin the plane of the panel 9.

The sign is made by pressing or drawing the entire thin sheet metalshape, including the panel 9, slopes 10, channels 13 and flanges 14,then placing in position preformed wood inserts 5 and securin themtogether and to the flanges 14. The rawing orshaping may be accomplishedon a small press, due to the thinness of the metal, and as anotheradvantage the nails or fasteners 17 may easily be driven through themetal and into the inserts. The signs, therefore, can be made in afraction of the time required for the making of the ordinary, commonlyused'sign. The rear of the'panel is unsupported and will yield whenstruck by an object, for example a stone or the like, and such objecttherefore will not readily pierce the panel. The slopes 10 aid in theprovision of the yielding or shock: absorbing quality of the panel.

The sign may-either be hung, secured to a support from the rear, or maysimply be nailed onto a su port by driving a nail through from the rentthereof. The border and channel 13 may be of any desired shape,

"5' third surface of each insert being the head 16 being correspondinglyshaped in the preferred form of the device.

What is claimed is:

1. A signboard comprising a thin flexible metallic panel and forwardlyextending slopes extending from each edge of the panel, said slopesterminating to provide a plurality of longitudinal channels, flangesextending rearwardly from the channels, and rigid substantiallytriangular inserts having two of their outer surfaces covered by theflanges, channels, -and the material of the 510 s, the lsposedsubstantially in the plane of the metallic panel, and means for securingthe inserts together and to the flanges only, thereby leaving the slopesfree to yield when pressure is applied to the panel.

2. A signboard comprising a thin flexible metallic body shaped toprovide a panel and forwardly extending slopes an outwardly andrearwardly extending flange extending from each slope whereby to formwith each slope a channel for reception of an in insert, andrigidinserts disposed adjacent each cooperative slope and flange, theinserts being secured to the flanges only, thereby leaving the slopes;free to yield.

3. As anew article of manufacture a light weight reenforcedweather-proof outdoor advertising sign comprising a one-piece stamped lght auge metallic panel having forwardly r extepding integral ,slopesextending. :from

third face only ofeach triangular stri being exposed at the rear of thesignboar' and lying substantially in the plane of the panel. Intestimony, whereof, I have hereunto subscribed, my name this 5th day ofFebruary,

ARCH M. DONALDSON.

